Scripture Nugget 12.14.2016

“But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. For if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one. … In speaking of ‘a new covenant,’ he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear.” Hebrews 8:6-7, 13

In this Advent season we are invited to step fully into the new covenant. The covenant made new by the perfect sacrifice, the Messiah, Savior of all. Let Jesus be our Savior, we have no way of providing our own salvation. It is only through faith in the gift. Thanks be to God.

Scripture Nuggets 12. 10,11,12,13. 2016

12.10.2016 (2 Timothy 1-4)
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David – that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also love with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:8-13

If you follow my postings you may remember the phrases Over-the-horizon faith and Over-the-horizon promise. In this scripture we see both in the very beginning. “Remember Jesus Christ” is the act of moving forward in faith, into the future, (over-the-horizon) remembering Christ our Savior; “raised form the dead” is the promise. The last 3 verses are prescriptions for living out faith into the future based on the promises of God. “If we have died with him, we will also love with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” I encourage us all to live with faith based on God’s promises. Journey into the future, “Over-the-horizon” to things not seen or known based on promises of things to come, assurance of God’s mercy, grace and love.

12.11.2016 (Titus 1-3, Philemon)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Titus 2:11-15

God’s grace at work in each of us long before we recognize it is God in our lives, becomes apparent and we accept the work of God in our hearts, we receive that which God has been doing; we receive salvation at once, but not all at once. Not to worry, the grace of God continues to work in us so that we may renounce impiety and worldly passions as we live into the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Accept this promise, then declare to others the promise is real. In this Advent Season live in to the fullness of the hope, peace, joy and love God offers through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

12.12.2016 (Hebrews 1-4)
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” Hebrews 1:1-4

In faith, we believe that God continues to sanctify us, transforming us into Christ likeness. Christ, the Son of God, through whom God the Father created the entirety of creation; to whom the entirety of Creation is given. Christ, the Son, is the exact imprint, a perfect reflection of God. We who believe are being transformed into that image. As we continue to journey in this Advent season, prayerfully ask God what it is about you that keeps you from the fullness of this image. What is it that keeps you from realizing the entirely of the hope, peace, joy and love found in Christ?

12.13.2016 (Hebrews 5-7)
“but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always loves to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:24-26

Christ, the Son of God, has been, is and will always be the source of salvation. It is impossible for me or you to save ourselves, if we could, we wouldn’t need a Savior. To achieve holiness, blamelessness, righteousness we need a Savior who is all these things in His very being. Praise God there is a way.

Scripture Nugget 12.9.2016

“I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1: 12-17

Even though I was formerly a ________, ________, ________, and a ________. Fill in your blanks, give thanks for God’s grace and mercy. Know that I/you are an example to others, not because of anything we did but because of what God did in us. God’s promise of salvation is seen in Christ coming into the world to save sinners. O that God’s gift of mercy be an example to others who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

Scripture Nugget 12.8.2016

“We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for another is increasing. … To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. …But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. …Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. … But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. …. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. … Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of You.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 11-12, 2:13-14, 16-17, 3:3, 5, 16

In the Advent season as we celebrate the Lord’s Coming by remembering His birth we also look ahead to His return, His Coming Again. We live in two times simultaneously, both cause us to evaluate our personal condition. Are we able to be in God’s presence? Do we live our lives in a convincing manner, so others would follow us to the Lord? Is my faith growing abundantly, fueled by God’s grace? Am I, are you at peace at all times in all ways? Living in and with the peace of Christ gives us joy. Covered and filled with God’s joy we are able to love God and others with an overwhelming way. Rejoice and celebrate joyfully, allow the spirit of God to overflow out of you into and on to others. Christ has come, Christ is here and Christ will come again! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Scripture Nugget 12.7.2016

“And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13

Holy hearts and minds, the same hearts and minds that are in Christ. Being blameless and righteous before God what a way to live! When I counsel engaged couples preparing for not just the wedding ceremony but life as a married couple, I ask them to read Luke 1:6 before they come for the first session, it says, “Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.” Them are Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. Living righteous and blameless lives is then the foundation of all we discuss. During the ceremony, I mention this standard; what a wonderful way to live, not only as married couples but as individuals as well. Peace on earth, lives full of joy and love are possible, if we would only turn to the One who transforms, who makes it possible for us to righteously and blamelessly before the Lord. We live in two times simultaneously. In one we hear, repent, the Kingdom of God is here; in the other we cry out, Come, Lord Jesus, come. In both, it is only by faith in Jesus that we may be made righteous and blameless.

Scripture Nugget 12.6.2016

Scripture Nugget 12.6.2016

“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as your bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14

More evidence the practice of Christianity is a team sport! I am thankful for those who pray for others without ceasing; that we all may grow in knowledge, obedience and spiritual power. That we would all know God not just about God. But I must admit, if I am being truthful with you and with God, that I’m deficient in my prayers for others. I wonder, is that true with you? Maybe we just stumbled upon a major reason our lives are such a struggle. God has, is and will continue to rescue, restore and redeem – let us pray each other into His gloriousness! Lord forgive me for my deficiencies, please forgive me for creating a chink in the spiritual armor of those around me – fill those holes and by your grace catch us up, so that our knowledge of you, and our obedience to you cause us to seek and receive the spiritual power you offer. That we would live in the light of hope in you, that we would receive your peace, be made joyful by you and love as you love. O that all, beginning with me, lead lives pleasing and acceptable to you.

Scripture Nugget 12.5.2016

“And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. … Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, … Do all things without murmuring and arguing that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. … For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. … Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:9-11, 2:5a, 14-15, 3:8b-9, 4:4-7

God defines holiness and righteousness creation. Any righteousness, holiness, purity and blamelessness we possess comes from faith in Jesus Christ. What if ……. we were all “pure and blameless”, ‘blameless and innocent” and had the minds and hearts of Christ? The result I believe would be the peace promised in the Savior. The reason this peace hasn’t been realized is not because the Savior hasn’t come – He has; it is because we continue to hope in something/someone less than, something/someone other than Jesus Christ. Therefore, any peace we experience is less than that which is promised. The kingdom of God is here, let us all repent and enter in. God promises not only peace, but joy and the fullness of love. Rejoice!

Scripture Nugget 12.4.2016

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. … let there be thanksgiving. … now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. … everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:1-2, 4b, 8b-10, 13-14, 18b-20

So, maybe, “Let there be peace on earth and let I begin with me” (yesterday’s thought) is not exactly right. First, be like God, imitate God; love God, others and self as Christ loves. Christ loves so much he sacrificed himself – he left his lofty seat next to the Father to be with is, Immanuel. We are called to Christlikeness! Amen and Amen, with thanksgiving praise God for shining the light of Christ, the bright focused light of the Savior brings salvation for those who will expose themselves to it. Get up, allow Christ to shine on you, allow Holy Spirit to fill you then give thanks to God. For there to be peace on earth, one must allow the peace of God to come over, to come in and to go out to others. Let there be peace on earth, as God intended; let the light of God shine and overcome the darkness, starting with me…..Praise God from whom all blessings flow, from whom the light shines, life abundant proceeds and grace abounds!

Scripture Nugget 12.3.2016

“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit. And that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

The notes in The Wesley Study Bible say this about these verses: “In concluding this half of the letter, Paul prays that: (1) the inner persons of his audience will be strengthened so that Christ may dwell within them through faith; (2) being established in love themselves, they might be enabled to grasp the scope of God’s amazing love, which surpasses knowledge; and (3) they will be filled with God’s fullness, ‘with all his light, love, wisdom, holiness, power, and glory. A perfection far beyond a bare freedom from sins’”

Strengthened by faith so that Christ might dwell within; God’s love established within we grasp the fullness (as E. Stanley Jones says, the fullness of the potential of the possibilities of God’s grace) of God’s love, filled to overflowing with this fullness (light, love, wisdom, holiness, power, and glory) ah, sweet sanctification. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of his glorious grace, that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6

What are you full of, the hope, peace, joy and love of Christ or something less? In this Advent Season let us positively respond to God’s call and promise – let us be able to truly sing, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

Scripture Nugget 12.2.2016

“And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. … Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? … Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. … So then, friends we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. … For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ … Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. …. the fruit of the Sprit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” Galatians 4:6-7, 16, 28-29, 31-5:1, 13-14, 16, 22-23

Today’s reading, three chapter, Galatians 4-6 is packed with great stuff! Paul’s question in 4:16, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” lifted off the page, caught my eye and pricked my heart? I can imagine God asking His creation the same question! Do I, do we, God’s children live in the fullness of the potential of the possibility of life with God as God designed it and expects? Or do we willingly submit ourselves to something much less, bearing burdens we are not meant to bear, and gratifying desires that remove us from our promised inheritance. Like Adam and Eve, when told not to “touch that tree”, do we? The result, separation from God, no more inheritance of the free-gift. Or do we bear fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Just imagine, if Adam and Eve had been obedient, had faithfully kept and tilled the garden, been fruitful and multiplied as God intended, what life with God would be like now. Children of the promise, stand firm in God, love God, love others, live by the Spirit, and bear much Spiritual fruit! For you were called to freedom to cultivate and share love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.